The Messengers centers on a group of seemingly unconnected strangers who die from an energy pulse after a mysterious object crashes down to Earth. They awaken to learn that they have been deemed responsible for preventing the impending apocalypse.

Bowles, who has played Holly on the HBO vampire drama for the past four years, will portray Sen. Cindy Richards, a hard-working, passionate politician driven by a painful personal past. When she crosses paths with the so-called Messengers, she's not only in the midst of a re­election campaign, but also on the verge of making choices that may have a long-lasting impact far beyond the Beltway.

Negahban, who played terrorist Abu Nazir on the Showtime drama, is set to play a Middle Eastern prime minister whose responsibility of keeping peace in his volatile country weighs heavily on him, and may force him to make some very unpopular decisions.

The Messengers is set for a midseason debut; an official premiere date has not yet been announced. Trey Callaway and Basil Iwanyk are on board to exec produce, with Kent Kubena, Ava Jamshidi and Duane Clark set as co-EPs. Stephen Williams directed the pilot for CBS Television Studios and Thunder Road.

Bowles is repped by Innovative, Main Title and Stone Meyer; Negahban is with United and Impression.